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Noor Salman: Pulse nightclub shooter's widow not guilty Noor Salman: Pulse nightclub shooter's widow not guilty
(35 minutes later)
The widow of a gunman who killed dozens at a Florida nightclub two years ago has been found not guilty of helping him.The widow of a gunman who killed dozens at a Florida nightclub two years ago has been found not guilty of helping him.
Noor Salman, 31, was charged with obstruction of justice and aiding Omar Mateen in providing support to the Islamic State militant group.Noor Salman, 31, was charged with obstruction of justice and aiding Omar Mateen in providing support to the Islamic State militant group.
Her lawyers had argued that she was an innocent victim of her husband's lies.Her lawyers had argued that she was an innocent victim of her husband's lies.
Mateen killed 49 people at the Pulse nightclub in June 2016 before he was killed by police. Mateen killed 49 people at the Pulse nightclub in June 2016 before he was shot dead by police.
Who was the Orlando club gunman?
The 12-member jury returned their verdict on Friday morning on their third day of deliberations.The 12-member jury returned their verdict on Friday morning on their third day of deliberations.
Defence lawyer Charles Swift said in his closing argument: "She doesn't go to the mosque, she searches for Hello Kitty on her website. Ms Salman sobbed as the verdict was read while her relatives hugged, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Defence lawyer Charles Swift had said in his closing argument: "She doesn't go to the mosque, she searches for Hello Kitty on her website.
"We're supposed to believe she had long conversations with Omar Mateen about jihads?""We're supposed to believe she had long conversations with Omar Mateen about jihads?"
Who was the Orlando club gunman?
Her attorneys also argued she was a victim of a "tragic marriage" to Mateen, with no prior knowledge of the attack.Her attorneys also argued she was a victim of a "tragic marriage" to Mateen, with no prior knowledge of the attack.
But prosecutors pointed to a statement Salman made to the FBI after her arrest in January 2017, that she knew her husband was going to do something violent. "Omar Mateen is a monster," another defence attorney, Linda Moreno, told the jury.
"Noor Salman is a mother, not a monster. Her only sin is she married a monster."
But prosecutors pointed to a statement Ms Salman made to the FBI after her arrest in January 2017, that she knew her husband was going to do something violent.
They also said Ms Salman "knowingly misled" FBI interrogators in the hours after the attack.They also said Ms Salman "knowingly misled" FBI interrogators in the hours after the attack.
"This case is about what she knew and what she did," Assistant US Attorney Sara Sweeney said to the court.
"The defendant didn't pull the trigger that night, but she did serve as a green light for her husband," she had argued.
Special Agent Ricardo Enriquez said that Ms Salman had confessed that her husband had been watching Islamic State videos and purchased a weapon.
Orlando police released a statement after the verdict was announced.
"I believe in our criminal justice system and am grateful for the jury's hard work," Chief John Mina said.
But he added: "Nothing can erase the pain we all feel about the senseless and brutal murder of 49 of our neighbors, friends, family members and loved ones."